Titan King: Ascension of the Giant

"The place we're in is called the Radiant Continent. It used to be the heart of the Glorious Magic Realm."

"However, three hundred years ago, external invaders laid waste to the Glorious Magic Realm. The area of the Radiant Continent now is less than ten percent of what it once was."

At first, Gandalf's voice carried pride, but it gradually turned forlorn and sorrowful. In fact, the current size of the Radiant Continent is not even a quarter of the continent Orion inhabited.

"Ninety-nine percent of our world essence was drained, leaving the people here tainted by dark forces. Most of the mages of the Radiant Continent were transformed into evil mages. Only a small portion remained faithful, devout to the elements, and held magic in reverence."

As Gandalf reached this point, his voice grew more vibrant, as though believing that everything would soon improve and that light would ultimately drive out the darkness.

"The mages who kept their faith and purity are called the Glorious Mages."

"Lord Orion, once you climb out of these ruins, you'll see Desolation City above. It's the last haven of the Radiant Continent."

In that moment, Orion noticed a faint flush across Gandalf's face, seemingly caused by his own excitement.

"Gandalf, are you a native to this land?"

"Yes, Lord Orion. Please forgive me for getting overly excited just now."

So he really was a native of the Radiant Continent. No wonder he spoke about those evil mages with such agitation.

"Then, do you know why I'm here?"

There was a peculiar smile on Orion's face, as though he was someone in the know watching a Whitefur who was still in the dark. But that smile quickly faded.

"I do. This is exactly the promise granted after I begged my master for help—to lay them to waste, to destroy this land, to bury all evil so that everything can finally settle."

Gandalf turned around, gazing at Orion with expectant eyes, as if dreading the possibility that Orion might say he could not fulfill such a task.

"In that case, Gandalf, as you wish."

Orion turned to exchange a glance with Gustalon and Lorelia, who immediately fell in step beside him.

"Gandalf, you don't mind showing us around Desolation City, do you?"

Some things, simply hearing them from Gandalf was not enough for Orion to believe, even if Gandalf was recommended by the Deputy Commander. Certain matters and certain pieces of information had to be personally investigated and verified.

"With pleasure. This way, please!"

Thus, the four of them navigated a dark, ruinous passage leading to the surface.

Desolation City was indeed a kind of paradise. It was a profoundly magical metropolis, with towering, grand structures endowed with various magical abilities.

Within Orion's field of vision, tall buildings in the darkness could automatically shift and even transform into fearsome magical monsters. Many other buildings glowed brilliantly with magical light in the dark of night.

Even the distant roads featured mysterious little sprites, dozing on street lamps shaped from magic crystals. Perhaps those street lamps were the sprites' homes—that was Orion's honest thought at that moment.

Just then, the straight trees lining both sides of the road began to sway and bow their heads, each opening wooden eyes and mouths to stare curiously at Orion's group.

"They're Treants! It's a pity that the magical elements here are much too scarce—they can no longer continue to evolve. If these Treants could keep growing, they would blossom and bear fruit. Word has it that their flowers boost one's energy and aid meditation, and their fruit can assist people in cultivating magic…"

As Gandalf highlighted the wonders of Desolation City, his eyes radiated excitement. But when his raised fingertip moved slowly, pointing to the magical towers on the far side of the city walls, he fell silent.

Following his gesture, Orion saw towering magical towers within the walls, their faint glow illuminating the dark expanse outside the city.

"All this splendor is but an illusion. Everything will eventually turn to ashes."

Gandalf's voice was subdued, laced with despair.

"Only through destruction can we attain rebirth and a fresh start."

"You and the others in this city are still alive, aren't you? As long as you live, there's hope."

Gandalf was indeed a native of this place. Since he had become the Deputy Commander's subordinate, the Deputy Commander must already know everything about this land. The Glorious Mages of Desolation City certainly wouldn't be allowed to be wiped out; that would be a terrible waste of magical talent.

"Yes. Bury this place and we can all make a new beginning."

This was an old man who loathed evil, who brimmed with hope for the future, who fervently sought a way forward. That was Orion's first impression of Gandalf.

"Tell me about our enemies."

Orion had already extended his senses, scanning Desolation City once over. On the surface, Desolation City appeared vibrant, but in truth the elemental energy here was extremely thin.

This land was little more than a barren place without hope. Its fleeting brilliance was only the final flicker of Glorious Magic civilization.

"Lord Orion, the Radiant Continent has five mage adversaries: Alaric, Corvinus, Thornas, Elowen, and Gavriel. Among them, the Cursed Mage Gavriel is just outside the city, laying siege to Desolation City."

In reality, Orion wasn't especially concerned about how many mage enemies were present. He wanted to pinpoint the exact location of the World Tree, so he could secure the Heart of the Undying for the Deputy Commander. That was his true objective.

"Do you know where the World Tree is?"

Orion cast a sidelong look at Gandalf, who had been positively brimming with fighting spirit when detailing their foes, looking as if he wanted to charge straight out of the city to confront them.

"The World Tree stands at the continent's center, guarded by Corvinus—the fiercest of them all. The tree is protected by a barrier they're slowly corrupting."

Now that Orion knew the whereabouts of the World Tree, a relaxed expression came over his face.

"How many people do you still have who can fight?"

"Three thousand Glorious Mages are ready to join the battle at any time."

"Very well. At dawn tomorrow, march with me."

There was no room for refusal in Orion's tone.

After a moment of thought, Gandalf nodded in agreement.

"Once we wipe out those evil mages outside the city, the ordinary folk here will no longer be threatened."

Orion said this as casually as if it were nothing more than a passing comment. But in Gandalf's ears, it came across as a promise of bloodshed and turmoil.

For the briefest moment, Gandalf felt as though the Radiant Continent had returned to the chaos of three hundred years ago, when foreign armies had invaded.

"All… all right…"

...

Titanion Realm, the human kingdom, Soaring Bird City.

Wyatt—the head of a slaver group—rushed into Torin's makeshift tent, bringing two pieces of good news.

"Master, all the goods we brought back from the giants' territory have sold out completely. We've made a massive fortune in gold coins."